Desktop - Laptop - Netbook?

what's your choice and why

[explorador]

Just curious, as a webmaster do you prefer a laptop over a desktop pc? what about a netbook (less power). I come from a time where laptops were expensive (desktop too ha ha) but it was easier to have an average price powerful desktop PC with bunch of cables than a regular laptop.

Things have changed and I kept working on desktop pc. My desk was my place for work and suddenly started using the laptop more and more (not just for meetings). The result is I started working on my desk, on the table, the living room, etc. Now I rarely use my desktop computer and instead work more and more on the laptop.

More in context: would you agree on building an internet/coder/design office based on laptops? why? why not?

[LifeinAsia]

For day-to=day stuff I use a laptop like a desktop (external monitor, keyboard & mouse).

For more serious development when I'm not making minor tweaks in Production, I have a server that I have virtualized for multiple environments.

These days, laptops can be pretty beefy and should be able to accommodate most uses unless you're doing some serious number crunching or something else very CPU or memory intensive.

Or if you need to connect to multiple monitors. For my purposes, using the laptop's screen in addition to an external monitor usually suffices. If I frequently needed two full screens, I'd probably invest in a docking station that supported multiple monitors.

For building up an office, I would probably lean towards laptops, although I'd have to do more research on the costs.

[J_RaD]

I work on a desktop 100% of the time.. i have many displays, nice ergo keyboard and mouse... its just comfy.

Desktops last longer with upgrades so its always a better bang for buck, and screens.. you only have to buy them once...and how long do they last? yea....long damn time.

power usage isn't any issue if you want to build around it... most desktop chips are under 100 watts these days,even down to 25 watts.

office? desktops... gigabit LAN, hardwire, big screens...and CHEAPER i've parted together brand new desktop builds under 200! cheap to buy, lives on longer with upgrades....

[vivalasvegas]

I have been using a laptop with external monitor, mouse and keyboard for many years. I rarely use just the laptop, but when I have to travel somewhere I just unplug a few cables and carry the laptop to wherever I need to go. One thing I would never do is work on a laptop while at the office because I just don't find it comfortable. For a second computer I am looking into getting one of those small desktops.

[Jonesy]

For Real Work I use a desktop.
When visiting a client, I'll drag along my laptop.
When travelling for pleasure (such as right now), I
haul along this netbook. All of which run Linux.

The netbook is somewhat of a pain to do Real Work on,
but, in a pinch, I can address whatever pressing "needs"
a client may bring up after I come back from the beach. :-)

Jonesy

[tangor]

Desktop, hands down. Laptop keyboards (while improved over the years) just aren't there. My touch typing skills go back to manual Royal typewriters to IBM Selectrics (best touch keyboard ever, my opinion). So full size keyboards are a must.

Have a laptop for onsite stuff, ie tools and other stuff I might need when at a client's location.

As for the office: the best you can afford. :)

[onlineleben]

Still having a desktop for some time intensive stuff I don't want to run on a laptop. The machine was handbuildt in 2003, received a few upgrades (HDs and RAM) and still runs fine. Only last year I switched to a laptop for everyday stuff.
At my 9-5 I use a laptop in a docking station and I see more difficulties (in a business environment) using the laptop than the desktop I had there 5 years ago.
For on the go I have a smartphone, but that is not usable for serious work.

[buckworks]

For me it depends on the task. I often prefer the desktop because of the big screen, but for reading I'll often curl up in the reclining chair with my laptop.

The Mac Air 11" is great for taking to meetings or for travel generally. I have a fun collection of totebags and even have a vest that can carry the Air in a pocket.

I don't have a smart phone, just a regular cell phone which I hardly ever use. I can use my iPad mini as a hotspot if needed (also rare).

[explorador]

Keyboard: a must, I only use laptops with specific keyboard type because I'm really fast at typing, full size kb only. As for the computer size I just can't overcome how a laptop beats everything else on a desktop saving space.

Serious work demands good fast hardware, the rest it's average. Recently a friend equipped his office with big computers, then needed UPS... that VS average laptops... big difference but that's an specific case.

I'm about to let go my last desktop computer and stay with laptops only. Can't beat the freedom of working anywhere but sure hits the discipline area... where one stops respecting the places for work and starts bringing the computer to other areas.

[dcheney]

My primary "desktop" is actually two desktops - one for databases - one for everything else. I have three 25" widescreen monitors side by side. One keyboard & mouse controls the whole thing.

I have a laptop that I only use when traveling.

Secondary desktops for various server functions (basically computers that were retired from my primary setup).

I have a tablet that I use at my "real job" to check on things.

(And yes, I have UPSs on all my desktop computers and internal network infrastructure.)